Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume I, Part 29

Author: White, Truman C
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] : Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1014

USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume I > Part 29

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While this event was taking place Drummond opened a cannonade on Fort Erie. This soon ceased and both contending forces labored assiduously several days in strengthening their respective positions. General Gaines arrived at Fort Erie on the 4th of August, assumed chief command and Ripley resumed command of his brigade. Gaines began operations by sending out a reconnoitering party, which found the ene- my and returned with a loss of five killed and four wounded. Early on the morning of the 7th the British began a heavy cannonade on the fort, which was gallantly returned. From that day to the 14th the siege progressed steadily, the garrison behaving with bravery. On the 13th Drummond increased his cannonade, renewed it on the morning of the 14th and continued it through the day. It made little impression on the American works; but early in the evening a shell went scream- ing through the air and fell directly into an empty American maga- zine, which caused a tremendous explosion. The enemy believed they had destroyed a principal magazine and sent up a loud cheer. General Drummond now had his preparations complete for a direct assault upon the fort. As the dark night of the 14th wore away an ominous silence prevailed.

At 2 A. M. an alarm came from a picket of 100 men under Lieut. William G. Belknap. The picket fired the alarm and fell steadily back. The enemy 1,500 strong dashed on and charged upon Towson's bat- tery and an abatis which had been constructed between that work and

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the lake shore. They were met with such determined resistance from the artillerymen and the 21st Regiment that they abandoned their purpose after a desperate struggle.

Meanwhile an assault was made on the right by about 500 infantry and artillery under Lieutenant Colonels Drummond and Scott upon what was called the Douglass battery (a strong stone work with two guns on our extreme right) and the connecting intrenchments. The latter force was soon repulsed, but the troops under Drummond carried scaling ladders and with great gallantry attempted to force an entrance over the walls. He was twice repulsed, after which under cover of the thick clouds of smoke he went around the ditch and in the face of a hot fire and after repeated attempts he scaled the parapet with 100 of the Royal Artillery. Colonel Drummond was now crazed with en- thusiasm, and galled by the former repulses, he ordered no quarter for the Yankees, and posted a band of Indians where they could rush into the works at the first opportunity and aid in a massacre of the garrison. . Now in possession of a part of the works he ordered a charge with the bayonet and many American officers were mortally wounded, among them Lieutenant McDonough, who was wantonly killed by Drummond himself, after asking for quarter. The latter soon afterward received a bullet through the heart. General Gaines ordered reinforcements from the left and center, commanded by Ripley and Porter, and a futile attempt was made to drive the enemy from the position. A second attempt with a large force was made and with a like result, and was followed by a third charge. The narrowness of the passage prevented effective assault by the Americans, but these repeated charges greatly lessened the number of the enemy at that point. Suddenly, and just as another desperate attempt was to be made to drive out the enemy, the earth trembled, a column of flame and smoke and débris shot heavenward, and a roar like thunder filled the air. Earth, timber, stone and mutilated bodies went up in that blast and fell upon a wide area.1 The magazine had been blown up.

This was a decisive blow and was instantly followed by a cannonade from the batteries of Captains Biddle and Fanning. The British broke and fled to their intrenchments, leaving 221 killed, 174 wounded, and

1 The cause of this explosion has never been officially explained. History ascribes it to ac- cident; and perhaps it would not be proper for me to state what I learned at the time. Even if it was design, I think the end justified the means. It was that mysterious explosion which, through Providence, saved our gallant little army from the horrors of a general massacre .- Lossing.

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186 prisoners The Americans lost 17 killed, 56 wounded and 11 missing. During the succeeding four weeks to about the middle of September the contending forces strengthened their positions and reinforced their armies. By that time the Americans were behind twenty-seven guns, with over three thousand men. The British had also received reinforce- ments, and almost to the close of August they threw hot shot, shells and rockets into the fort. On the 28th a shell fell directly into General Gaines's quarters and so injured him that he was compelled to retire to Buffalo. Hearing of this, General Brown left Batavia, though wounded and ill, went to Buffalo and crossed .over to the fort. He placed Ripley in command and returned to Buffalo and established quarters for the Army of the Niagara; but being informed of Ripley's unpopularity in the army, he again crossed the river and assumed per- sonal command.

Fort Erie was now in great danger. Providence interposed with heavy rains; the British encampment was marshy; fever broke out among their troops and for several days no offensive movement had been made. General Brown saw his opportunity and on the 9th called a council of his officers. Everybody was enjoined to secrecy and he proposed a sortie for the morning of the 17th in which he would "storm the batteries, destroy the cannon, and roughly handle the brigade upon duty before those in reserve could be brought into

action." 1 '1 While the opinions of many of the American officers were not in harmony with his, when he expressed his determination to haz- ard the bold move, all but General Ripley finally joined in hearty co- operation. Toward noon of the 17th Brown's forces were ready to move in three divisions-one under General Porter, composed of volun- teers and militia, was to move from the extreme left of the American camp by a circuitous route through the woods and attack the British right flank. The second division under Gen. James Miller was to move from the right and attack the center. The remainder of the 21st Regiment under Ripley was posted as a reserve out of sight of the enemy. The gallant Porter and his command reached a position within a few yards of the enemy before their movement was suspected, and an attack was at once begun. The startled British fell back, and two of their batteries were stormed and captured after half an hour of fierce fighting. This was promptly followed by the seizure of a block-

1 General Brown's letter to the secretary of war, September 29.

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house in the rear of another battery, the garrison were made prison- ers, cannon were destroyed and the magazine blown up. Porter had gained a complete victory, but at great cost; General Davis, Colonel Gibson and Lieutenant-Colonel Wood all fell mortally wounded.

In the mean time General Miller carried out his part of the plans. He penetrated between the first and the second of the enemy's bat- teries, carried both, and seized the blockhouses in the rear; within forty minutes after the attack began the whole British works were in possession of the Americans. Ripley's reserve was ordered up near the close of the action and he was severely wounded. The sortie was won, Fort Erie was saved and with it Buffalo, the valuable stores on the frontier and possibly the whole of Western New York. The Americans lost 79 killed and 214 wounded; very few were captured. Of the enemy 400 were captured, and nearly 500 were killed, wounded and missing.1 This memorable sortie has gone into history as more skillfully planned and gallantly executed than any other, and as one of the very few instances where a single sortie had compelled the raising of a siege. So completely was the enemy demoralized that on the night of the 21st Drummond broke up his encampment and returned to Riall's old intrenchments behind Chippewa Creek.

This victory, with that of Plattsburg, and the expulsion of the British from before Baltimore, dispelled much of the gloom which had over- spread the country. Brown, Porter and other officers received enthu- siastic commendation and were voted medals by Congress. General Porter in that sortie won undying military fame; and it is quite com- monly admitted that it was he who really planned and counseled the whole movement.

The raising of the siege of Fort Erie was the important closing event of the war on the Niagara frontier. Major-Gen. George Izard, then in command on Lake Champlain, moved to Sackett's Harbor early in September with about 4,000 troops, whence he could menace Kingston and the St. Lawrence and prevent the intended reinforcement of Drummond, and finally proceed to aid General Brown on the Niagara. Brown wrote Izard on the 10th of that month that the whole effective force on the frontier was not more than 2,000 and urged him to pro- ceed to Buffalo and join the army of the Niagara. Izard arrived at

1 " Thus 1,000 regulars, and an equal portion of militia, in one hour of close action, blasted the hopes of the enemy, destroyed the fruits of 50 days' labor, and diminished his effective force 1,000 men at least."-Brown's letter to the secretary of war.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Sackett's Harbor on the day of the Fort Erie sortie, and resolved to proceed westward. He embarked with 2,500 infantry on Chauncey's fleet and sent his dragoons and light artillery overland. They arrived at Lewiston on October 5. After consultation with Generals Brown and Porter he moved up to Black Rock, crossed the ferry on the 10th and 11th and encamped two miles north of Fort Erie, where he assumed chief command, and General Brown retired to his old post at Sackett's Harbor.

Izard was soon in command of 8,000 troops and prepared to march upon Drummond. Leaving a garrison in Fort Erie, he moved down toward Chippewa and vainly endeavored to draw the British into an engagement. After some skirmishing and minor encounters, Drum- mond fell back to Fort George, and Izard to the Black Rock ferry, whence the whole army crossed to the American side, abandoning Canada. General Izard realized that the lateness of the season would prevent further successful operation against the enemy at that time.

During the assault on Fort Erie by the British on the 15th of August the most intense anxiety prevailed in Buffalo and throughout the county. It is probable that almost every human being who was in health was out along the river and lake, watching that event in the darkness. It was feared that the fort would be captured and that the enemy would then cross the river and again wreak vengeance on the unprotected settlements. Many packed their goods in preparation for another flight from their homes. With the coming of daylight, however, boats crossed the river from the fort and cheered the anxious community with news of American victory. A few days later the wounded prisoners passed through Buffalo to Williamsville, while those unhurt were taken to Albany.

The war of 1812 was now drawing towards its close. During the winter of 1814-1815 negotiations were in progress between commis- sioners of the two powers at Ghent, and there was general hopefulness that they would be successful in bringing peace. Especially was this true of the inhabitants of what are now Erie and Niagara counties, who had so severely felt the terrors and losses of the conflict. A treaty of peace was finally agreed upon on December 24, 1814, and ratifications were exchanged at Washington, February 17, 1815. The news of the victory won by Jackson at New Orleans, 8th January, 1815, was printed in an extra of the Buffalo Gazette of the 15th of January, and a week later came the news of the treaty at Ghent. General rejoicing suc-

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CAMPAIGN OF 1814.

ceeded throughout the county, as well as elsewhere. The good tidings soon penetrated to the most remote districts, giving the anxious inhab- itants assurance that peace was restored. Away down in Sardinia "Father" Spencer preached a sermon early in January in the house of Gen. Ezra Nott, on which occasion he had a newspaper containing the news of the treaty. The preacher began his services by saying, " I bring you news of peace," and then read the announcement to the large gathering.

The Ghent treaty provided for mutual restoration of all conquered territory and for three commissions-one to settle the title to islands in Passamaquoddy Bay; one to lay out the northeastern boundary of the United States as far as the St. Lawrence; and the other to run the line through that river and the lakes to the Lake of the Woods. The set- tlement of many other minor matters was of course also embraced in the treaty.

Amid these exciting times the organization of the First Presbyterian church was effected on the 2d day of February, 1812, with twenty-nine members. For nearly four years after its formation the society bore the title, First Congregational and Presbyterian Church of Buffalo. It was then changed by unanimous vote of the society to its present name. Early meetings were held in the court house, but after the burning of the village they were interrupted for nearly three years.

On May 3, 1816, Rev. Miles P. Squier, a young student from Andover, was installed pastor of this church, with a salary of $1,000. Services were held at least during a part of the period up to 1823 in a barn on the northeast corner of Main and Genesee streets. In May of that year a house of worship was finished at a cost of $874, on the site now oc- cupied by the Erie County Savings Bank.1 A second Presbyterian church was not organized in Buffalo village until 1835, as described farther on.

1 The history of this mother of all the Presbyterian societies in the city from the time of the erection of its first church may be briefly told. The first edifice was used only until 1828, when it was sold to the Methodist church and was removed to Niagara street; it was again sold to a Ger- inan congregation and removed to Genesee street. It finally became an ice house for a brewery and was burned in 1882. The new church of the Presbyterians was completed and dedicated on the 28th of March, 1827; its cost was $17,500. That old church was for sixty years a familiar object to all Buffalonians. After frequent periods of agitation of the subject of removal, the property was sold to the Savings Bank, and a site purchased on the corner of Pennsylvania and Wadsworth streets, and there the present beautiful edifice was completed within the past year, costing $225,000.

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CHAPTER XVIII.

1815-1820.

Erie County at the Close of the War-Its Deplorable Condition-Second News- paper in Buffalo-A Public Execution-The Cold Summer-Privation and Suffering -The First Bank in the County-A New Mail Route-Incorporation of Buffalo Village-Travel in Western New York-Road Improvements-Four New Towns Created-Local Politics-Military Affairs-Church Work in the County-Increasing Commercial Importance of Buffalo and Erie County-The Early Lake Marine-The First Steamboat-Its Loss and Building of the Superior-Strife Between Buffalo and Black Rock-Inception of the Erie Canal-A Struggle for the Western Ter- minus-Beginning of Harbor Improvement-Construction of the Erie Canal- Progress Throughout the County-Grand Island Affairs.

Erie county at the close of the war of 1812 was in a deplorable con- dition. It shared with the whole country in all the disastrous condi- tions consequent upon such a conflict-scarcity of money, paralyzed commerce, crippled business enterprise, and cessation of settlement in new districts. In the latter respect it not only suffered in a far greater degree than many other localities, but also in the almost total destruc- tion of its principal villages by the enemy's torch. Two small hamlets, Williamsville and Clarence Hollow, were left, each with its grist mill, saw mill, store, and tavern; otherwise the county at large was in a far more unfortunate condition than at the beginning of the conflict. A few troops remained at Buffalo during the winter of 1814-15, but were sent away in the spring. Along the western frontier, although nom- inal peace existed, a feeling of enmity continued for a considerable period. This was one of the natural results of the war in a locality that had suffered severely. If Great Britain was taught that the young republic was rapidly gaining in strength and would no longer tolerate injustice or oppression, the public men and the press of the conquered nation continued at enmity in thought and speech towards the victors, until the beneficent hand of time could work a salutary change.

In April, 1815, a second newspaper made its appearance in Buffalo, with the title Niagara Journal. In politics it was Democratic, in oppo- sition to the Gazette. The career of this paper is more fully described

J. Lyth.

VIEW OF LAKE ERIE AND THE BAY FROM BUFFALO IN 1816.

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FROM 1815 TO 1820.

in Chapter XXXII. The local Assembly district, then comprising Niagara, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties, was given two mem- bers, the first ones elected under this apportionment being Daniel Mc- Cleary, of Buffalo, and Elias Osborn, of Clarence.

In August, 1815, Charles Thompson and James Peters, who had been soldiers in the regular army, were publicly executed in Buffalo for the murder of James Burba, who lived three miles below Scajaquada Creek. Several companies of militia, under Gen. William Warren, were on guard during the proceedings, and Rev. Glezen Fillmore, the young Methodist minister of Clarence, preached a funeral sermon over the unfortunate criminals; he was assisted by Rev. Miles P. Squier, who had just been called to the pastorate of the First Presbyterian church.

The prevailing financial stringency continued during a considerable period after the close of the war, embarrassing business men and greatly delaying material progress. Money was very scarce in this county, as well as elsewhere, and so-called " shinplasters" were issued by many business men and put in circulation. To aggravate the de- pressed conditions the summer of 1816 was one of unprecedented cold ; snow fell late into May and freezing weather was experienced in June, causing great loss of crops and adding to the privations of incoming settlers. In August flour sold in Buffalo at fifteen dollars a barrel, and a few days later there was not a barrel for sale at any price. The flour and grain on hand throughout the county was principally held by the well-to-do and more prudent families, who in many honorable instances relieved their more needy neighbors at prices below what might have been obtained. When the new crop was harvested it temporarily re- lieved the situation, but it was so meager in quantity that there was for many months great scarcity and in some instances actual suffering for food. Under these circumstances the hunter's rifle and the fisherman's rod frequently relieved impending destitution.

As a measure of financial relief it was believed in Buffalo that a bank would be desirable, and accordingly, in July, 1816, the Bank of Niagara, the first one in the county, was established with an authorized capital of $500,000. This was a large sum for such a purpose, but only $6.25 was required to be paid in on each $100 share. The directors in this institution were Augustus Porter, of Niagara Falls; Joseph Brisbane, of Batavia; A. S. Clarke, of Clarence; Jonas Williams and Benjamin Caryl, of Williamsville; Isaac Kibbe, of Hamburg ; Martin Prendergast,

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of Chautauqua county ; Ebenezer F. Norton, Jonas Harrison, Ebenezer Walden and John C. Camp, of Buffalo; Samuel Russell and Chauncey Loomis. Isaac Kibbe was the first president, and Isaac Q. Leake the first cashier.'

A little before the close of the war a mail route was established, pass- ing through Willink and Hamburg east and west and through the present towns of Wales, Aurora and East Hamburg. There was a post-office with the name of Willink at Blakeley's Corners, two miles south of Aurora village, and one at John Green's tavern, before men- tioned, with the name Hamburg. The first named office was moved soon after the war to Aurora village, and Elihu Walker was postmaster there nearly twenty years.

It must be noted that in the year 1816 several Seneca Indians were taken to Europe for exhibition purposes by a speculative person known as Captain Hale; among them were Chief So-onongise (called by the white people Tommy-Jemmy), Little Bear, and a fine-looking fellow called "I-Like-You." The speculation was a failure and Hale de- camped. While the Indians were in England a woman of excellent standing was deeply enamored with I-Like-You and was with difficulty prevented from marrying him; she sent him her portrait after his arrival home.

As early as 1813 preliminary steps were taken, for the incorporation of Buffalo as a village, and an act was passed by the Legislature for that purpose April 2, but the destruction of the place at the close of that year prevented the consummation of the purpose. A similar at- tempt was made in 1814, with a like result; but on the 5th day of April, 1816, an act was passed by the Legislature under which village incorporation was effected. The first Board of Trustees was composed of Oliver Forward, Charles Townsend, Heman B. Potter, Ebenezer Walden, Jonas Harrison and Samuel Wilkeson; the clerk was Jonathan E. Chaplin; treasurer, Josiah Trowbridge; collector, Moses Baker.

1 The establishment of this bank was the first public financial enterprise in Buffalo and within the limits of the present Erie county. For two years it had a satisfactory career, but in 1818 it was forced to withstand a "run." Changes in the Board of Directors took place in January, 1819, and if we may judge by the following from the Buffalo Patriot of March 23, 1819, there was gen- eral demoralization in the institution: "We are happy to learn that the opposition [to the bank], which has so long existed, has ceased, and the directors are adopting measures to resume busi- ness." In 1826 the management of the bank passed to C. Van Antwerp, previously of Albany, who was made president, and William Williams cashier; from that time until the expiration of its charter it had a more prosperous existence, The banking office was on the corner of Wash- ington and North Division streets,

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FROM 1815 TO 1820.

The usual village ordinances were adopted in regard to streets, of- fenses against the law, protection from fire, etc. Towards the close of that year further protection from fire was provided, and the trustees were authorized to ascertain the practicability of procuring a supply of water for public use. Twenty-five ladders were ordered made within thirty days and all owners of houses were required to provide "one good leathern bucket for each house, store, or shop;" to cause chim- neys to be swept, and from that time forward to build all chimneys large enough to admit of chimney-sweepers passing through them. It is probable that this action was taken on account of a fire, as the local newspapers of December 17 contained an expression of thanks from George Badger for assistance by the citizens at his late fire. There were several changes in the village ordinances previous to 1822, but none of great importance.

Travel in Western New York was still slow and difficult and settlers were turning hopefully towards the promised great waterway from the Hudson River to Lake Erie for a solution of the local commercial prob- lems. There was in 1817 only a tri-weekly mail to Buffalo from the east; the stages left the village for the east on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at five o'clock in the morning. The roads in many places and at certain periods were almost impassable, and a journey across the State at such times was a trying experience. Erie county roads were no better, and probably were not as good, as those of other local- ities. This may have been to some extent attributable to the character of the soil and the lack of sufficient drainage. Frequent public com- plaints of the condition of the highways on the reservation, the Cayuga Creek road, the Batavia road, the Big Tree road, and others, are found recorded. A good deal of early State legislation was directed to the improvement of highways and bridges. Among the acts of this nature was one of April 2, 1810, which appointed Parmenio Adams, Alexander Rea and Zenas Barker commissioners to lay out a road, to which allu- sion has been made already in these pages, from the village of Hart- ford, in the town of Avon, to "the village of New Amsterdam in the county of Niagara." On June 19, 1812, James W. Stevens, Frederick Miller and Joseph Landon were appointed by the Legislature commis- sioners to superintend the improvement of this road, and $5,000 were appropriated for the purpose. On the 20th of February, 1816, Josiah ` Churchill, Parmenio Adams and William A. Carpenter were named by the Legislature as commissioners to lay out a road from Moscow, Gen-

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Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume I, Part 29

Author: White, Truman C Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Boston] : Boston History Co. Number of Pages: 1014

Author: White, Truman C
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] : Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1014